Czech Beer Festival in Prague

The 5th Český pivní Czech Beer Festival in Prague takes place over 17 days from May 17th-June 2nd 2012. The beer tent has a capacity of 10,000 people, and with over 70 types of beer to taste, it is sure to be a good party. This beer festival is so awesome it even has its own currency- the Tolar. 1 Tolar is the equivalent of 1.8 Euro or 2.3 US Dollars and Tolars are sold in packs of five. 1 litre of beer= 2 Tolars. With daily live music and weekend afterparties, plus food from top Czech chefs, it’s a great place to eat, drink and be merry. The Czech Beer Festival is held at Exhibition Centre Prague-Holešovice and the city will be busy during this period so it is wise to book your accommodation in advance and have a look at Prague self catering apartments.

Brewery Tour in Prague

Taking a brewery tour of Prague is a great way to sample lots of different types of beer and learn about the history of beer in the Czech Republic from an expert guide. Prague has pubs with their own breweries attached, which produce a variety of beers from light pilsners to dark ales. A brewery tour will take you to the best pub breweries in the city,  including the famous U Fleku Beer Hall and Brewery, which is located in a historic building dating back to 1499.

Pivni Galerie Prague

If you want to buy beer to take home as a gift, you can visit the Pivni Gallery, which offers a choice of  more than 180 brands of beer from the portfolios of 34 breweries.  You can take home a specially designed palette or wooden gift boxed filled with your own selection of Czech beer, and you can also purchase glasses, steins, and other beer-related paraphernalia.

Prague Beer Museum

The Prague Beer Museum isn’t really a museum as such. It’s a pub that has over 30 types of Czech beer on draft all in one place, including traditional pilsner, fruit beer, chocolate beer, caramel beer… If you can’t decide, try the beer sampler of 5 or 10 different beers. There are even beer cocktails with funny names such as the ‘Skip and Go Naked’, ‘Beer Hops Bender’ and ‘Pink Panty Dropper’!

photo by Eddie Virago on flickr

Here are 6 must-do extreme sports when visiting the sunshine coast:

1. Skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef

Jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet is sure to get your heart pumping! There are heaps of places in Queensland that offer the awesome experience of skydiving, however the ultimate place to skydive is around the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll get to enjoy the amazing views of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as the magnificent sights of the rolling golden beaches. Simply breathtaking!

2. Bungee jumping in Cairns

If you’re looking to go bungee jumping, you’ll be sure to find a bungee jumping tower in Cairns. What a spot to fall, whilst connected to a cord, with stunning views of the ocean and the lush surrounding rainforests. Most of the towers are 50 metres high and some bungee jumping places will let you touch the water below. Keep in mind that you usually have to be at least 45kg and 10 years of age to participate.

3. Paragliding flights

This is a bit more of a time consuming activity but is well worth the effort. You’ll have to book a course that usually includes 2 days of introductory training and full license training. Once you’re fully trained, you’ll be able to choose the point you want to zoom into the air from, which can be as high as 10,000 feet. There are some beautiful places to take the first leap, so pick your favourite place in Queensland.

4. Rainforest rafting adventures

Now it’s time to get a bit wet and wild with river rafting. Beginners can take a 2-hour trip, with 2-3 grade rapids, so fairly tame. You’ll learn the important safety precautions, the standard paddling techniques and how to make awesome splashes. For more experienced rafters, there are full day rafting adventures that take you through the pristine World Heritage Rainforest, with grade 3-4 rapids. And of course for those advanced daredevils there are grade 4 rides that will take you through some fun white wash down the Tully River.

5. Cape Tribulation jungle surfing

What is jungle surfing you ask? Attached to a flying fox zipline, you’ll fly through the canopy of the colossal rainforest trees and see Cape Tribulation like you’ve never seen it before. There are 5 tree platforms throughout the jungle surfing bonanza. At these points you’ll be able to catch your breath and appreciate the glory of Cape Tribulation, in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. Look out for the real flying foxes!

6. Quad biking fun

Kuranda has some great all-terrain trails which will really get your blood pumping. Powering through the mighty Aussie bushland, you’re sure to have the time of your life. If you’re not comfortable with the heavy-duty quad bikes, most quad bike tours provide the option of a smaller bike.

If these 6 ultimate extreme sports haven’t got your heart pumping, let us know what your favourite extreme sport is. We’d love to add it to our list!

photo by Kenski1970 on flickr

Food in Vienna has been influenced by various surrounding countries over the centuries, in particular Italy, France, Hungary. Why not check out Vienna apartments to rent, stay a while, explore the city’s coffee shops and savour the foods that Vienna has to offer?

Here are five foods you should definitely sample when trying out the Viennese cuisine:

1. Apfelstrudel

Traditional Viennese apple strudel is a very thin layered pastry with a filling of apple, cinnamon, sugar and raisins. It’s usually served in slices with powdered sugar on top, and makes a great accompaniment to a cup of coffee.

2. Wiener Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel is a veal escalope which is beaten thin with a hammer, then breadcrumbed and fried. It is often served with a slice of lemon and Erdäpfel Salat- a side dish made from potatoes. Any schnitzel in Austria called Wiener Schnitzel has to be made from veal. If it is made from pork, it must be called Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein.

3. Tafelspitz

Tafelspitz is boiled beef in broth. The name tafelspitz refers to the cut of meat, known as the tri-tip. The meat is boiled with root vegetables and spices in broth, and is typically served with minced apples and horseradish.

4. Original Sachertorte

For a taste of the Original Sachertorte, visit the Hotel Sacher in Vienna where you can order a slice of Vienna’s famous chocolate cake.  The cake was invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and the recipe remains a closely guarded secret.  The cake consists of two layers of dense chocolate cake, coated with a thin layer of best-quality apricot jam, and topped with chocolate icing. It is traditionally served with whipped cream and a “Wiener Melange” (coffee with milk).

5. Kaiserschmarrn

Kaiserschmarrn consists of torn up pieces of fluffy, caramelized pancake sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with hot fruit compote made out of plums. There are varying stories surrounding the history of Kaiserschmarrn, but it is thought that the dessert was first prepared for Austrian Emperor Francis Josef I.

photos by asirap, Jen SFO-BCN, kadluba, Kirk Siang and Joffley on flickr

Gran Canaria is one of the bigger islands and warm winter temperatures make the island a popular destination for surfing when everywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere has turned rather chilly. Not only does Gran Canaria offer warm weather all year round, but flights to Gran Canaria from Europe are also rather cheap. There are sandy beach breaks for beginners, and volcanic reefs for more advanced surfers, meaning there is something for everyone. Water temperatures in winter hover around 18-19 degrees Celsius, whilst average water temperatures in summer linger around 24-26 degrees.

Since the island is round in shape, there is a choice of coasts that work in different conditions. The main surf areas in Gran Canaria can be divided into a few areas: Las Palmas, The North Coast, Galdar, The East Coast and the South Coast. Surf is best on the North Coast of the island, which is ideally situated to receive those powerful North Atlantic ground swells during the winter months. If you’re in the North part of the island you can start with La Cicer and explore the many world class reef breaks and beaches between Las Palmas and Galdar. Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria and boasts one of the best waves in the world, El Confital.

In contrast, the south mainly offers softer breaks and sandy beaches, though if there is a south swell it can work on the south side of the island in Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and Arguineguin too.

Gran Canaria is a great place to learn to surf with fantastic beaches and several surf schools that will take you to the most suitable surfing spot on the day. With it being a popular tourist island, there is plenty of accommodation too.

Other things to do in Gran Canaria

Aside from the surf, there are plenty of other things to do in Gran Canaria. You can ride a camel over the sand dunes of Maspalomas, go shopping in the capital of Las Palmas, see birds of prey and exotic plants at Palmitos Park, visit the mock-western town of Sioux City, join a mountain biking tour through the island’s interior, or go scuba diving to explore Gran Canaria’s wrecks and reefs.

photo by El coleccionista de instantes

Australia and New Zealand may be neighbours, but they also have lots of differences. Australia is a huge land mass, and unless you plan on spending several months backpacking this enormous country, chances are you’ll have to choose a particular state or region to explore. New Zealand is made up of islands and is much smaller, therefore it’s easier to see more of the country on your holidays to New Zealand. There are also other factors you can take into consideration:

Climate

Kata Tjuta, Australia

Since both Australia and New Zealand are in the Southern Hemisphere, their winters and summers are at exact opposite times of year to those in the Northern Hemisphere.

Because Australia is such a vast country, the climate varies depending on where you are going. The outback and the centre of Australia is very dry, arid and hot. The Northern part of Australia has a year-round tropical climate, with warm, dry winters and hot, wet summers. The South of Australia usually has cool winters with snow in the mountains and hot, dry summers.

Whilst Australia as a continental climate, New Zealand has a maritime climate affected by the weather conditions at sea. Temperatures are usually mild, rainfall is moderate and there is an abundance of sunshine. In summer temperatures hover around the mid-twenties, sometimes reaching 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, the North Island is generally warmer with temperatures around 10-15 Celsius, whilst temperatures in the South Island are between 5 and 10 Celsius.

Landscape

Rotorua, New Zealand

Much of Australia is outback with red, dusty desert. Whilst the interior of the country is generally barren and very inhospitable, it is also very fascinating, boasting famous sights such as Uluru, Kings Canyon and Kata Tjuta. You can visit outback towns such as Alice Springs or the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, where everyone lives underground. The country has some mountain areas too, including the Blue Mountains in the south-eastern part of Australia. Most of the population lives by the coast, where there are beautiful sandy beaches and cosmopolitan cities.

New Zealand is spread across two islands- North Island and South Island. Whilst Australia is known for the outback, New Zealand is known for its natural beauty with rolling hills, magestic fjords, stunning glaciers, snow-capped mountains and sandy beaches. There are active volcanoes and there is also lots of geothermal activity here, which is evident when you visit the hot springs in Rotorua.

Activities

Australian holidays might involve snorkelling or diving the Great Barrier Reef, taking in the beach culture and exploring the outback. It’s all about the water-based activities in Australia- surfing, shark cage diving, swimming with sea lions and diving with crocs.

Queenstown in New Zealand is known as the Adrenaline Capital of the World and there are plenty of activities to get your heart racing, such as zorbing, bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting and sky diving. Australia has lots of these adrenaline activities too, but it’s what New Zealand is known for. New Zealand is also great if you like your winter sports.

Wildlife

Croc in Australia

When it comes to wildlife, the two countries are very different. Australia has lots of critters and deadly creatures such as poisonous snakes and crocodiles, whilst New Zealand doesn’t have any. Before humans arrived in New Zealand and introduced mammals, the country was a land of birds. Due to the absence of predators, many of the birds evolved flightlessness, and the most famous of these is the kiwi. Australia’s native wildlife mainly consists of marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats.

It’s just so different. It’s a magical, watery world where roads are replaced with canals and cars are replaced by boats. Where else in the world can you see something like Venice?! I love getting lost in the quiet backstreet canals and sitting with a slice of pizza in one of the picturesque squares. I love listening to the sound of gondoliers singing songs as they glide down the busy Grand Canal. I love the emerald green colour of the water, and the beautiful Venetian architecture. Yes Venice is definitely my favourite.

However, as one of the most popular cities in Europe, it can be both crowded and expensive, so to ensure you have an enjoyable experience here are my top tips for visiting Venice:

1. Consider staying outside of Venice

Finding cheap accommodation on the islands is really hard to come by, especially in the height of summer, and if you must stay close to the sights, you might want to check out Venice holiday apartments. If you’re traveling on a shoestring budget and you don’t mind staying further afield, you’ll get a much better price. My friends and I left it till last minute to look for accommodation and there isn’t a lot of choice when it comes to hostels. Things were either fully-booked, had poor reviews or only had all-female dorms (we had a male in our group). We ended up staying at a camp site called Camping Fusina about a 40-minute bus ride from Venice-Mestre train station. While it might seem far away, there was actually a daily ferry across the water to and from Venice. It was quick and easy, and only took about 20-minutes. We went sightseeing in Venice all day, and then spent our evenings at the camp site, where there was actually really good on-site nightlife. The cabin we stayed in was very clean with a nice en-suite bathroom, so don’t be deterred by the word campsite and assume you’ll be sleeping in tents!

2. To avoid the crowds, go in the off-season

I visited Venice at Easter time, and so it was very, very crowded. There were two cruise ships in, which meant there were crowds of people everywhere and believe me, those narrow streets can get very very stressful indeed. The busiest times for tourists visiting Venice are from Easter right through till the end of summer in September/October. If you want to avoid all the tourists you’ll need to go in the off-season. Venice can also experience acqua alta (flooding), caused by abnormally high-tides and heavy rainfall, which causes the canals to overflow. Acqua alta most commonly occurs in October, November and December so if you’re traveling in these months, it would be wise to check the tides and forecast on the internet before you go. If there is possibility of acqua alta, you might want to take some wellies (gumboots for you Americans) with you!

3. Throw away the map

Seriously, I had a map of Venice with me, and apart from giving me a general idea of which districts the sights were located in, it proved to be completely and utterly useless. Venice is an absolute maze to navigate, so throw away the map and use your instincts. Let yourself get lost and you can find yourself in some very pretty backstreet canals away from the hoards of people.

4. Dine away from Piazza San Marco

Like most places in the world, if you try and order a cup of coffee next to the most famous attraction, prices are likely to be much higher. When in Venice, stay clear of having coffee at Piazza San Marco if you’re on a budget. For cheap, really good coffee, stop in one of the little backstreet shops and order an espresso standing up at the bar. The same applies with food. If you want to eat in Piazza San Marco, you’re going to pay far more than restaurants further away. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do that- it’s always nice to treat yourself, but if you’re trying to save some Euros then opt for a delicious slice of take-away pizza and eat it sitting on a bench in one of Venice’s beautiful squares.

5. Bargain for your Gondola Ride

I previously wrote this article about whether a gondola ride is expensive or not which gives you a guide on how to choose a gondola. You can definitely bargain hard and haggle over a price. Don’t take the first gondola you see, ask different gondoliers and see if you can get a decent deal. There are lots of gondolas by the pier at the end of Piazza San Marco, but I would avoid these and find one elsewhere if you don’t want to pay over-the-odds. Since gondola rides are charged per gondola seating a maximum of six people, it’s better if you have more people in your group, then you can divide the cost. The ‘official guide price’ from the website for gondoliers www.gondolavenezia.it  is €80 for 40 minutes at the time of publishing, but prices will vary according to the length of time, the sights you want to see, and whether you want your gondolier to sing songs or play the accordion. It is also more expensive for an evening gondola ride.

Koh Samui is located off the East Coast of Thailand, and is the country’s second largest island after Phuket. It’s a quick flight from Bangkok and package holidays to Thailand will often include a few days in Bangkok followed by a relaxing island getaway to Samui. We visited Koh Samui in June at the beginning of the rainy season, and unfortunately the weather was rather wet, but there were still plenty of things to do on the island to keep us entertained.

Here are 10 things to do on your Koh Samui holidays:

1. Visit the Big Buddha

The Big Buddha is Koh Samui’s most famous landmark, and as its name suggests, it’s very…BIG! The 12-metre high golden statue sits at the top of a grand staircase, and it’s big enough to be seen from the sky as your plane approaches the island. The Big Buddha was built in 1972 and is part of the Phra Yai Temple in the northeast of the island. You can walk up the stairs for views from the top, and there are several shops nearby selling good quality Buddha ornaments and statues.

2. Visit the Grandmother and Grandfather Rock

The Grandmother and Grandfather rocks are the Koh Samui’s famous penis and vagina rocks. Yes you heard me correctly! Located at the south end of Lamai beach, these rocks have been shaped by the wind and ocean to resemble male and female…um…private parts.

3. Elephant Trekking

I know there’s a bit of controversy over whether people should do elephant trekking or not, but I’ll leave that one up to you to decide. You can choose a 30-minute or 60-minute elephant ride through the lush jungle, and stop at a waterfall on the way. Our elephant loved stopping to munch on plants and spray itself with water! You can stop to have your photo taken along the way, and afterwards you can feed the elephants with bananas.

4. Do a Kayak Tour

The Kayak tour was my most memorable experience in Koh Samui. The day trip takes you to Ang Thong National Marine Park which featured in the famous movie The Beach. The scenery is beautiful with white sandy beaches and emerald green waters. Sights visited on the tour include the sandy beach of “Ko Mae Ko”, the hidden “Emerald Lake” and the “Praying Monkey” rock.  You’ll kayak through tunnels, caves and bizarre rock formations, and snorkel around the islands of Ko Tai Plao.

5. Have a Drink in the Ice Bar

What? There’s an ice bar in Koh Samui? Yep! Don fur hats, capes and gloves and enter the chilly world of Bar Ice to try some delicious flavoured vodkas and cocktails. In a country as hot as Thailand, it’s weird to swap the humidity of outside for temperatures of -7 degrees Celcius! The best part? The full-size tuk-tuk sculpture made entirely of ice!

6. Send a lantern into the sky

If you walk along Chaweng beach at night, there are people selling paper Sky Lanterns, which you can light with a flame and launch into the sky. Watch as the paper lantern ascends higher and higher and drifts away into the night sky.

7. Eat some grilled corn on the beach

I’ll never get how delicious the corn was in Koh Samui. On Chaweng beach there are vendors selling fresh grilled corn and fruits like pineapples and mangoes…yum!

8. Have dinner on the sand

There’s nothing like dining under the stars listening to the sound of the ocean. Just before the sun goes down, the restaurants start setting up tables, laying out cushions and transforming the wooden sun loungers into comfortable platforms to dine on. At night the beach is lit up with torches, lanterns and fairy lights, creating a romantic vibe. There are lots of restaurants serving Thai food, delicious seafood and cocktails, and there are sometimes live fire dancing shows.

9. Watch a Thai Dancing show

Many of the hotels and restaurants in Koh Samui put on classical Thai Dancing shows, which provide a great opportunity for photo taking. Have a delicious Thai dinner and enjoy an evening of traditional entertainment watching the dancers perform in colourful costumes.

10. Swim Under Na Muang Waterfall

For a change from the beach, head inland to the Na Muang waterfalls. There are several waterfalls on Koh Samui, but Na Muang are the most beautiful. The two cascades at Na Muang can be accessed via a footpath from the entrance to the park, and the pool at the bottom of the first waterfall is a great place for a refreshing swim.

My first time to Florence I was staying out in the Tuscan countryside and visited the city just for the day to do some basic sightseeing. Florence is the main gateway for exploring Tuscany, and if you have the time you should definitely explore the region and perhaps even do a wine tour. Finding cheap accommodation in the city can be tricky during the height of summer, so its worth checking out Florence short term apartment rentals.

For anyone visiting Florence for the first time, these are the top 5 attractions in Florence:

1. Ponte Vecchio

One of the most famous bridges in the world, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that wasn’t destroyed by the Germans  in World War II, supposedly because Hitler liked it. Spanning the narrowest point of the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio used to be occupied by butchers shops but now has lots of jewellery and souvenir shops along it.

2. Il Duomo

The Duomo (Cathedral) in Florence, officially called Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, has a beautiful marble façade with shades of pink, green and white, along with an impressive ‘octagonal’ Renaissance dome. The Gothic Cathedral was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1294, but construction was only completed in 1436, when architect Filippo Brunelleschi added the dome. The Duomo complex features the Duomo, the Baptistery and Giotto’s Campanile. A tour of the dome will take you to see the impressive frescoes, including the incredible fresco of The Last Judgement, and the outdoor views over Florence.

3. Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria in front of the Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s most famous square and has been the centre of political life in Florence since the 14th century. It is the main meeting point for both locals and tourists, and features several statues by famous Florentine artists. The statue of Michelangelo’s David is a copy, and the original is in the Accademia.

4. Galleria Degli Uffizi

The Galleria degli Uffizi gets very very busy because it contains the world’s most important Renaissance works of art. The Uffizi museum contains works from artists such as Botticelli, Caravaggio, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt and Michelangelo to name just a few. In high season the queues for the Uffizi can be very long, so it would be wise to buy tickets in advance.

5. Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace

If you cross the River Arno over the Ponte Vecchio you’ll come to Palazzo Pitti, a huge Palazzo that was originally built for the Pitti family, but was bought by the Medicis in 1548, and functioned as the royal residence of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Today it houses several important museums of interest such as the Palatine Gallery, the Royal Apartments, the Silver Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Porcelain Museum and the Costume Gallery. The Giardinio di Boboli is a beautiful green park area with gardens, fountains and views over Florence.

Piazza della Signoria by Rickydavid, Galleria degli Uffizi by cfwee, Boboli Gardens photo by dolce_luna

So far this year my travels have taken me to Australia, Ireland, Montenegro and Poland and now I’ll be spending two months in the USA!

This summer I’ll be crossing two major things off my updated bucket list: Gamble in Vegas (well, maybe I’ll just put a dollar in the slot machine), and take an Amtrak train journey in America.

When I heard that this years TBEX conference would be held in Colorado, I decided now is the time to realise my dream of doing a big tour of America. I won’t be going everywhere, but I will be visiting some old friends and going to places I’ve always wanted to see.

First off, I’ll be video blogging from Florida on a Visit Florida blogger trip. Over five days we’ll be going to Orlando, St Petes, Sarasota and Bradenton and then back to Orlando!

I’m then back to the UK for 5 days, before jetting off to Vegas Baby! I only have a quick pit-stop in Sin City though before I head straight to Portland OR to visit my friend Lindsay, who I last saw three years ago in Bali, Indonesia. After my last ordeal flying back to London from New York (it took me around 48 hours to get home) Delta gave me a $100 voucher which I used to buy myself a return flight to Portland. Certainly came in useful!

After that it’s back to Las Vegas where I’m meeting up with Nicole from Bitten by the Travel Bug. It would be nice to wake up married to Ashton Kutcher then win a million dollars, but if not I’ll settle for a week of hotels, pools, restaurants and shows! We’re also planning to get a bit adventurous and visit the Grand  Canyon.

After Vegas we’re heading to TBEX ’12 in Keystone, Colorado! The plan is to hire a car and drive from Las Vegas to Denver- my very first US road trip! Nicole’s going to be doing the driving, so I guess I’m in charge of the music and the map-reading? We’ll be arriving just in time for my 25th birthday on June 14th, so I will turn 25 in Colorado!

I’m really looking forward to TBEX’12: it’s an opportunity to meet some of the US-based travel bloggers I’ve never met before, and socialise with some familiar faces too. I love attending these travel blogger events because they’re always good fun and they are often quite fruitful in terms of blog ideas.

The rest of my trip is still in the ideas stage, but on my list of things to visit are Chicago, Memphis (to visit Graceland), Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin, Texas. I’ve seen a lot of episodes of Man Vs Food, so I think it would be interesting to try my own challenge in the Deep South: “Little Blonde Girl vs Food”. I’m excited to meet some crazy characters and have my own adventure.

Whilst  I like the idea of a Great American Road Trip, I don’t fancy the idea of driving across the States on my own. I think it’s something I’d like to do with friends and would actually get pretty expensive with rental and petrol costs. Whilst I do plan to take one Amtrak journey, it seems to be the most expensive option so it won’t be my main method of transport. The Greyhound is the cheapest way to get around, but I was a little concerned when I was told that convicts are given a bus ticket home when they get out of prison! I’ve heard good things about the Megabus (it has free Wi-Fi yay!) and we have it here in the UK too, so I think I’ll be using that to travel from Chicago to Memphis, Atlanta and New Orleans. Everywhere else I’ll be flying, and I’ve found some really cheap flights on airlines like Spirit Airlines and Frontier.

I fly back to the UK just in time for the London 2012 Olympics, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve entered the Samsung Global Blogger contest to be an Olympic blogger. If they choose it would make my year.

photo from freefotouk on flickr

Krakow is also known for its nightlife with a plethora of restaurants, bars and clubs, and the city is a popular choice for stag and hen parties. It gets particularly busy in summer, and since the Polish currency is still the Zloty, many visitors find Krakow comparatively cheap for a night out over other European cities.

Below are some of the top sights to see in Krakow. Most of them are located within the Old Town, so if you only have a short period of time in Krakow, these are the major attractions. Of course Krakow is a large city with 18 districts, so if you have more time it would be worth exploring further afield. Many visitors take day trips to Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine from here.

1. St. Mary’s Basilica

The interior of St.Mary’s Basilica in Krakow is one of those sights that makes you go ‘wow’. The church is ornately decorated with stained glass windows, blue ceilings and lots of gold, but the most impressive features is the exquisite wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss. From outside, the 80 metre-tall Brick Gothic building dominates the market square and a bugle call rings out from the church on the hour, every hour.

2. Krakow’s Rynek Underground Museum

This ultra-modern archeological museum takes you on a journey through Krakow’s medieval past through a series of hands-on activities, holograms, interactive displays and touch screen monitors. Clearly a lot of money has been pumped into the project: on entering the museum you walk through a curtain of smoke, and there’s also a computer-generated puddle on the floor that ripples when you step on it. What’s so unique about this museum is that it is built 4 metres under the main market square, showing off the city’s foundations dating back to the early Middle Ages.

3. The Cloth Hall

The Cloth Hall or Sukiennice is an enormous building in the main market square that used to be the centre for Krakow’s trade. Dating right back to the 1300s, the Cloth Hall is possibly the world’s oldest shopping mall, and was a place where merchants would meet here to barter and discuss business. It now houses souvenir stalls selling trinkets, amber jewellery and traditional handicrafts.

4. St. Peter and Paul Church

Grodzka Street is one of Krakow’s oldest streets and connects the Main Market Square with Wawel Royal Castle. Along the street you’ll find the Baroque Jesuit Church of St. Peter and Paul with its unmissable figures of the twelve apostles lining the gate.

5. St. Andrew’s Church

Across the road from St. Peter and Pauls Church is the older St. Andrew’s Church, which dates back to the 11th century and is the finest example of Romanesque architecture in Krakow.

6. Kanonicza Street

Located at the foot of The Wawel Hill, Kanoniczka Street is one of Krakow’s most scenic streets and was the final part of the ceremonial route which led from the main city gate to the square of Wawel Royal Castle. Here you’ll find the yellow house where Father Karol Wojtyła, later Pope Jean Paul II, lived from 1951 to 1967.

7. Wawel Royal Castle

The highlight of the Old City is Wawel Royal Castle, a beautiful Royal Residence with a stunning courtyard. For over 500 years Wawel served as the main residence for Polish rulers, until the capital was moved to Warsaw. This is a place where Polish Kings were crowned and buried, and the building remains an important symbol of Polish national identity. Highlights of the interior include the State Rooms and the priceless collection of tapestries, as well as the Treasury and Armoury. Another interesting feature is the bronze dragon that guards Wawel Hill, belching out real fire.

8. Krakow’s Pigeons in Rynek Glowny

Krakow’s main square is full of pigeons and they have become a symbol of the city. Legend has it that back in the medieval ages the Polish Prince Henry IV wanted to become king and unite all the Polish lands. A witch told the Prince he must travel to Rome and present the Pope with a large quantity of gold to obtain his support. She offered Prince Henry assistance, and turned his knights into pigeons. The pigeons flew up to the top of St. Mary’s Church and started ripping out small parts of stone and bricks, which turned into gold as they fell to the ground. He collected the gold and left Krakow for Rome, but spent it all on feasting and merrymaking. He never made it to Rome, got lost along the way and never made it back to Krakow, so his pigeon/knights still remain in the main square awaiting his return.

9. Krakow’s Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz

During your visit to Krakow it’s worth getting lost in the labyrinth streets of the Kazimierz where you’ll find synagogues, churches, museums, cafés, bars and art galleries. If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s a great place to find delicious and inexpensive food. From 1495 this area became a bustling Jewish District, but when the Nazis invaded Poland during the Second World War the Jews of Krakow were forced into a crowded ghetto in Podgórze, and many of them were later killed in Nazi death camps. The area was left in ruins and was considered a dark and dangerous place, but in recent years it has undergone restoration. Now Kazimierz is a trendy area popular with both locals and tourists.

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